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Spalato (SPALATRO United States)

or SPALATRO United States on the side of the Allies greatly complicated the political situation in Spain, and the entire cabinet resigned on April 19, 1917. Garcia Prioto was appointed prime minister.

The new cabinet at once declared the continuance of neutrality. As the German submarine warfare increased it became ever more difficult for Spain to maintain friendly relations with all the belligerents. The Allies complained against the sinking of their passenger vessels in Spanish waters in increased numbers, and as an added complication many Spanish vessels were sunk by German submarines. The army demanded radical reforms in its organization and administration, and finally put these demands in the form of an ultimatum. As a result of these difficulties the minister resigned on June 9, 1917, and Señor Dato became again prime minister. He at once undertook to grant the reforms asked by the army. Dissatisfaction among the working people led to strikes in many parts of the country in 1917, and on August 13 of that year martial law was declared. A revolution was threatened in Catalonia. In the face of all these problems the cabinet resigned at the end of October. A coalition ministry was formed which undertook to compromise on the disputed questions.

Several ministries now fell and rose in succession. Throughout 1918 difficulties with Germany continued in regard to submarine warfare as the result of repeated sinkings of Spanish ships. The demand for constitutional and economic reforms continued to harass the government, but there were no open outbreaks. On the assembling of the Peace Conference at Paris, Count Romanones conferred with the Allied statesmen. Catalonia was promised a separate government in 1919, and was granted a Parliament of two chambers. In April of that year, however, serious disorders again broke out and Barcelona and the Catalonian districts were given a place under martial law. Following the war economic conditions in Spain were serious, although it fared better than the countries actually engaged in war. There was a shortage of wheat in 1920 which resulted in bread riots in various parts of the country. There was an outbreak in Morocco in July, 1920, and Spanish troops undertook to put it down.

Operations continued slowly for the remainder of the year and finally resulted in the suppression of the outbreak.